A stroll in Central Park – away from the concrete canyons of New York
New York’s most amazing landmark, the Central Park, is spread across 843 acres of land. Designed by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, every inch of this park has been landscaped to give it a picturesque natural look and also offer a range of attractions from gardens to performance centers, representing the remarkable culture of New York.
Home to expansive lakes and ponds, enchanting gardens adorned with classical architecture and sprawling green meadows, with an interesting tale behind each attractions, the park tells the fascinating story of this remarkable city. The Great Lawn which hosts the summer performances by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra hosted a Papal Mass in 1995, and the Blockhouse at the northern end of the Park is an old fort from the War of 1812. Various statues of iconic figures, including William Shakespeare and Balto, also adorn the Park. The Park is also home to oldest North American monument, the Obelisk.
The Central Park also features the world famous Central Park Zoo, along with the Wildlife Center and the Children’s zoo. Sprawling across 6.5 acres the facility features three temperature zones: tropic, garden and polar. Although compared to the Park itself the Zoo is a mere 0.7 percent of the size of the Park, it boasts over 130 species and over 1,400 animals.
True to its ‘Park’ sense, the Central Park hosts a range of attractions focusing on fun activities. The Park features a public swimming pool, tennis courts, two skating rinks, a carousel and a jogging track. The Carousel is one of the biggest in the United States and it boasts fifty eight hand-carved horses. Out of the two skating rinks, the Lasker Rink converts to an outdoor swimming pool during the summer months. The Park also features glaciated rock outcroppings to keep the climbers busy. The 6 mile Park Drive attracts runners, joggers, cyclists and even skaters.
New York’s theatre is also well represented in the Park. The Park’s Delacorte Theatre is the venue for popular summer productions; especially the popular New York Shakespeare Festival, ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ an annual summer event hosting some of the big Broadway stars and Hollywood stars. The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre presents the Marionette Puppet theatres including popular numbers such as ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and ‘Peter Pan’.
With so much to see and do, exploring the Central Park is definitely going to take up most of your holiday time, especially so if you are a nature lover. For a convenient stay in New York try one of the
numerous hotels in Manhattan. Midtown Manhattan area is dotted with hotels ranging from boutique to luxury to budget. For the best options in hotel accommodation, research on the Internet or check with online lodging option providers. Most online lodging option providers offer special bargain deals making even a stay at a luxury hotel a budget trip. For easy access to the Central Park try the Bentley Hotel New York. The hotel is a short walk from the famous Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Broadway Theatre District.
Larry Austin is a freelance journalist who writes on travel related topics such as on hotels like the Bentley Hotel New York and worldwide destination reviews etc. He is currently working for roomsnet.com which offers visitors the option of world wide hotel bookings
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